Improved mode of securing corks in bottles



' lUNITEI) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT w. HUsToN, 0E cALAIs, MAINE.

IMPROVED MODE OF SECURING CORKS IN BOTTLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 24.2] 5, dated May 3l,1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT W. HUs'roN, of Calais, in the county ofWashington, in the State of Maine, have invented a new and Improved Modeof Securing Corks in Bottles; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in the arrangement and employment ofthose parts which will be hereinafter particularly described.

In the annexed drawing, 8 represents abottle, which is provided with acork, 10. The neck of the bottle is provided, as is usually the case,around its neck, near the top, with an enlargement, 9. Below thisenlargement a wire, l, surrounds the neck of the bottle. On two sides ofthe bottle-neck and to thiswire l are secured two pieces of Inetal,marked 3 3.

These pieces of metal turn over the wire at l their lower end, and thusform a hinge with said wire. The upper extremities of these pieces ofmetal turn over at right angles, or nearly so, about half an inch, andare divided each into three or more forks or teeth, 5 5 5. Two stripsare secured to each of the pieces 3 3 and extend up a short distanceabove the tops 0f said pieces. To the strips on one side is secured awire, 2,which is provided with a clasp. This wire extends across thecork when desired, and the clasp catches in a roll on the top ofthestrips on the other side of the bottle.

In operating this holder it will be seen that when the cork is pressedinto the bottle-neck and a portion of it extends above the bottle thepieces 3 3 are raised and the teeth on each side are pressed firmly intothe cork. The wire 2 then drops across the top of the cork and clasps atll to the roll on the strips. It will be readily seen that when theteeth have once entered the cork the upward pressure caused by the gasin the bottle has a tendency rather to tighten than loosen thefastenings. The wire which clasps above the cork is not essentiallynecessary in all cases-for instance, when the bottle is in a state ofrestbut when the bottles are to be moved or packed away fortransportation the clasp is necessary in order to prevent the teeth frombeing forced out by any casualty.

The great advantage of this fastener over any other now in use is thatit is not necessary in stopping bottles to have the corks always of onelength and size. With all of those fasteners which are now used it isnecessary that that all of the corks should be of one length. In thecases of Allender and Ashburner it is necessary that the corks shouldall be cut one length and cut so as not to extend above the top of thebottle, and even when the corks are all driven into the bottles so thattheir upper ends will be even with the tops of the bottles the fastenerscannot cover the corks until the plunger which forces them in is removedfrom the cork, but as soon as the plunger is removed the cork is forcedup by the gas, and then the fastener cannot be forced on. Thisdifficulty is entirely obviated in my fastener, for as soon as theplunger stops the teeth may be driven into the cork on both sides, andit is thus held firmly in its place. The plunger is then removed and theclasp secured.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The within-described fastener, which consists of the metallic pieces 33, which are hinged on a wire secured below the enlargeL ment on thebottleneck, and which are provided with teeth 5 5 5, with the strips 66, and with the wire 2, and clasp l1, the several parts being arrangedsubstantially in the manner and for the purpose herein specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name the 8th day ofMarch,I 1859.

R. XV. HUSTON.

In presence of- EDGAR WIIIDDEN, E. C. YOUNG.

